According to a recent study by User Experience Strategies (UXS) service at Strategy Analytics, current VR experiences lack the context required for real engagement with the medium.

With Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR headsets now available on the current market, VR titles are releasing thick and fast, and while some are providing players with immersive experiences such as Resident Evil 7‘s option to play the entire terrifying game in full VR mode on PS4, many games feel rushed and suffer from a distinct lack of emotional engagement.

“There are a number of ways that VR can be made more compelling: design content from the ground-up for VR to make use of its immersive properties; contextualize VR experiences to provide real emotional engagement with the content; and ensure sensory engagement with VR content through the ability to touch, see, and hear what’s happening in virtual spaces,” said Mathew Alton, Research Analyst and report author.

According to the report which you can read in full here, growth in the VR market will be driven by the creation of compelling experiences that allow players to experience, preview and escape reality.

Early owners of VR hardware such as PSVR, which launched in October 2016 were driven to the medium by its early promise. However, the biggest risks to the VR market are a lack of context, lack of social capabilities and the hard-wired headset restricting player movement.

Chris Schreiner, Director of Syndicated Research, UXIP added, “Manufacturers need to act on the opportunity to provide a platform for people to share their own VR Stories. VR is not entirely an isolated experience; the more sociable it is, the more attractive it is.”

Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PSVR headsets are all now available for PC and PS4.

Dan has been gaming for nearly 30 years and has survived everything from Nuclear Fallouts to Zombie Outbreaks but his main love is Survival Horror and don't we all know it. Favourite games include Resident Evil and Grand Theft Auto, he can be regularly found cruising the streets of Vice City listening to the classics.